Llevar is usually translated as "to carry" or "to take", but in idiomatic Spanish it also means "to wear", "to have been (doing something)", and "to carry out". It is one of the most versatile verbs in the language.
Llevar + clothing (to wear)
When you are describing what someone has on, use llevar or its reflexive synonym llevar puesto. (See ponerse for the verb that covers the moment of putting clothes on.)
Ella lleva un vestido rojo.
She's wearing a red dress.
Llevaba puesto un abrigo muy elegante.
He had a very elegant coat on.
Llevar + time + gerund (to have been doing)
This is one of the most practical constructions in Spanish. It replaces the English "have been + ing" for actions that started in the past and continue now.
Pattern: llevar + time expression + gerund (-ando/-iendo).
Llevo dos años aquí.
I've been here for two years.
Llevamos tres horas esperando.
We've been waiting for three hours.
Lleva meses buscando trabajo.
He's been looking for a job for months.
You can drop the gerund when the context is clear (especially for residence).
Llevo cinco años en México.
I've been in Mexico for five years.
Llevar a cabo (to carry out)
A more formal expression meaning to execute or complete something planned.
Llevaron a cabo el proyecto con éxito.
They carried out the project successfully.
Vamos a llevar a cabo una investigación.
We're going to conduct an investigation.
La reunión se llevó a cabo en el hotel.
The meeting was held at the hotel.
Llevarse bien / mal (to get along)
The reflexive llevarse describes how people relate to each other.
Los dos hermanos se llevan mal.
The two brothers don't get along.
¿Cómo te llevas con tu jefe?
How do you get along with your boss?
Llevarse (to take away / to win)
Llevarse also means to take something with you, or to walk off with something.
Se llevaron todos los premios.
They won all the prizes.
Llévate un paraguas, va a llover.
Take an umbrella, it's going to rain.
Other useful llevar phrases
Llevo muchas cosas en la mochila.
I'm carrying a lot of things in my backpack.
El autobús nos lleva al centro.
The bus takes us downtown.
Esta carretera lleva al mar.
This road leads to the sea.
Llevamos ventaja.
We have the advantage.
Related Topics
- Expressions with QuedarB1 — Quedar and quedarse for location, fit, staying, and agreements.
- Time Expressions OverviewA2 — How Spanish handles for, since, ago, in, and during with time expressions.
- Expressions with EcharB2 — Echar idioms: missing someone, taking a look, lending a hand, and more.